The consequences of Ivan Kuljak’s gesture can be fatal for a sports career.
Russian 20-year-old gymnast Ivan Kuljak rose to the headlines recently after introducing Vladimir Putin the letter Z in support of hostilities at the awards ceremony.
The Ukrainian won the gymnastics competition Illia Kovtun. Kuljak was next to him on the third podium, so the act was very upset in that sense too.
Kuljak justified his actions and said the letter Z supports “peace and victory”. In reality, Z is a symbol that supports military action. When there is talk in Russia of spreading propaganda about a special operation, there is talk of war elsewhere.
Walkers threaten the athlete’s coach Valentina Rodionenkon according to the one-year non-compete obligation. According to Rodionenko, the International Gymnastics Federation (IGF) is considering a one-year ban on “pressure from Ukrainians”.
Kuljak also accused the “provocation of the Ukrainians” in the race as the reason why he decided to present the letter Z at the awards ceremony.
The views expressed by Rodionenko and Kuljak are in line with Putin’s Russian propaganda and blatant cruelty.
Polish Sportowe Fakty reports that the Polish Minister of Sport Kamil Bortniczuk has sent a letter to the IGF requesting the closure of Kuljaki for the rest of its life.
In honor of the war, Vladimir Putin held pro-Russian celebrations at the Luzhniki Stadium, which part of the public is believed to have been forced into. EPA / AOP